Archive for January, 2008

Getting a new puppy or adopting an older dog is a wonderful thing and can be a very rewarding experience. However, being a dog trainer with young kids in the house, I have found that the excitement of a puppy tends to wear thin after only a few short weeks. Then the duties of raising a puppy or caring for an older dog can become a chore. Compound these newfound responsibilities with destructive behavior and potty training problems and there’s big trouble in Paradise. People will surrender their fresh sod, lawn lighting, Bar-B-Q covers, hoses, Roses and pool toys to a crazy lovable Lab. But when the couch has already been replaced, the chair legs are nawed down to stumps and every room smells like urine they start looking for a new home for their four-legged friend. I have found that the most tolerant of people typically will give up a puppy after about a year of dealing with these problems. The easiest way to avoid these problems is with proper management and obedience training. For me, “proper management” means know where your pup/dog is at all times. ensure that they are safe and unable to get into trouble at all times. I try to achieve this by using a crate or a puppy pen in the house and teaching the “Place” command early on. I would also add that the outdoor area where your dog can play or lie around must be secure to keep him from running into the street and MUST provide shelter from the elements and fresh water. The business of managing your dog is a lifetime commitment. Dogs don’t move out when they grow up but if you teach them well, you will be glad that they don’t. The management of your dog will loosen up as he begins to mature and handle more responsibility. First he will have limited freedom in one small area and when he does well there the area will eventually increase to the entire house if that is your desire. Remember that dogs are domesticated animals and have been bred to live with us not against us. I hope this short video gives you an idea as to what I mean by “Place”. It is a great way for dogs to be a part of the family and learn to have some self control. Oh, if you have a mouthy puppy give’em something like a peanut butter filled Kong toy to chew on while they hang out on their bed. If you need some help just give me a call at: 866-957-DOGS (3647) you can also get a lot of free info on my site. Visit us at: http://WWW.BEYONDTHELEASH.COM Thanks for taking the time time to visit my blog. this was my first post!

Well, in that case, maybe YOU have what it takes to make it in the ruff and kibble world of canine coaching. Maybe. But before you start barking up this career tree, it might be beneficial to get a little information first. The exiting world of dog training covers several areas of expertise, so consider which dog track you want to take.

So, like, what do I need to know? Isn’t it just “Sit, Heel, Stay”?

I am so glad you asked. Dog training encompasses much more than simple submission commands. Yes, a career in dog training can and does involve obedience training, but it can also delve much deeper. For instance, you could become an Animal Behaviorist, or a Behavioral Consultant. These professionals burrow into Rover’s psyche, working to dig up the long buried bones of his past. Rather than flea the past, they use it to see what makes him tick (Ooh, that one even made ME groan).

You mean I have to be a dog shrink?

Many in the dog-training field, especially Behaviorists, study not only veterinary science, but also psychology. So, in a way, you kind of become a “dog shrink” as you so eloquently put it. But this training helps with more than just the dog. Don’t forget, the dogs you will be training generally have owners, and some dog owners don’t realize that they may be the cause of the behavioral issues exhibited by their puppy pals (think of the mom of that snotty, screaming kid in the checkout line at grocery store who thinks she’s a great parent), and that they need to learn how to interact more effectively with their pets. It’s up to a trained dog specialist to uncover and rectify this.

So how much schooling up am I gonna need before I begin my career in dog training?

Many experts in the field of dog training will tell you it takes three to five years of serious, intensive study and hands-on dog training and handling to even become a good novice trainer. Becoming an experienced Master Dog Trainer takes many years of working with the animals, gaining valuable field (or park) experience. You will most likely even pay your dues with a few nips here and there (bites, not nerve-settling sips of schnapps). It’s all part of the price – and the leash you can do, if you are serious about a career in dog training.

So, are there like, dog trainer colleges?

There are indeed schools that offer courses in canine training. The program lengths and costs vary from school to school, depending upon the type of study you wish to pursue. There are even online and home study courses (I am familiar with one that charges $995 for a home study video package), but anyone who seriously wants to work with dogs should look for a school with actual animals that you can touch. Sniff around and dig up a school that fits your situation.

The Animal Behavioral College (ABC, get it?) charges about $3000 for its hands-on program to become a Certified Dog Trainer, which takes around six months to complete. And there are some accredited universities and colleges that proffer animal behavior programs. These are not necessarily dog-specific, but nevertheless will assist you in beginning your career in dog training. Cornell University in Ithaca, NY; Guelph University in Ontario, Canada; and Tufts University in Boston, MA are three such universities. Standard college tuition would apply at these schools, but they might throw you a bone and let you apply for financial aid. Beg…beg…good boy!

And then I can become employed as a dog trainer and watch the scratch (money, not the flesh wound) roll in?

No.

Why not?

Good dog trainers – and by that you can read “employed” dog trainers – enter their careers in dog training because of their love of dogs. They work for the intrinsic pleasure of helping man’s best friend, not for the money, power, or glory often associated with dog training. Initially, the novice dog trainer may even begin his career by working for a more experienced trainer as his assistant, trainee, or lackey. The pay grade for such positions is, of course, Lhasa Apso-sized – assuming you can find an experience dog trainer who will take you under his paw. If not, when was the last time you read a classified ad seeking a dog trainer?

The way many dog trainers collar a career in dog training is to become self-employed. Hang a shingle on the front door. This has been suggested by the American Dog Trainers Network, which states that you can have a part time career where, nationally, trainers earn an average of $20/hour. Not a bad living. But Uncle Sam is always snapping at the heels of the ambitious with his own statistical snarls and growls. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, put out by the U.S. Department of Labor, states that the median hourly earnings of non-farm animal caretakers were $8.21 in 2002 (the most recent year they have numbers for).

So what should I do? I love them pups!

The bottom line is that a career in dog training is something you do because you have a desire, passion, or drive to work with dogs, not because it’s a quick, easy, lucrative career option. As with most any career choice, there is effort involved. Shed your fears (regular brushing helps), put on your shiny coat, and get out there and claw your way to your career in dog training. Or you can just sit…stay…roll over. Good dog.